Traveling in Mexico

WASHINGTON - The U.S State Department recently issued a travel warning to inform Americans traveling to and living in Mexico about security concerns. Michelle Bernier-Toth from the U.S. State Department discusses safe traveling – and how to avoid or deal with danger.

• Visit only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours. Avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur.
• Delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states, where there have been recent violent attacks
• Recent violent attacks have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states and advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution.
• U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.
• The situation in the state of Chihuahua, specifically Ciudad Juarez, is of special concern. The U.S. Consulate General recommends that American citizens defer non-essential travel to the Guadalupe Bravo area southeast of Ciudad Juarez
• U.S. citizens are urged to be alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region.
• U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are urged to contact the consular section of the nearest U.S. consulate or Embassy for advice and assistance.
• U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crimes should notify Mexican law enforcement officials and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City or the nearest U.S. consulate as soon as possible.
• U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll ("cuota") roads, which generally are more secure.
• Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and check with their cellular phone service providers prior to departure to confirm that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks.
• Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and check with their cellular phone service providers prior to departure to confirm that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks.

Emergency Contact Information:

U.S. Embassy
Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc
Telephone from Mexico: 011-52-55-5080-2000
Telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000                         
E-mail: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov
 

U.S State Department
Telephone from U.S and Canada: 1-888-407-4747
Telephone from Mexico: 001-202-501-4444.

On the Internet:
http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov
http://travel.state.gov